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Police nabbed corrupt officer for allegedly extorting man of N3m in Bayelsa

IGP Confirms Appointment Of Adejobi As Force PRO

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested several policemen attached to the Zone 16 Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa for their alleged involvement in a N3 million extortion case.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Adejobi stated that the policemen in question had been apprehended following an internal investigation and would be transferred to the Force Headquarters (FHQ) in Abuja.

“The policemen involved in this case of extortion of ₦3 million have been arrested. The men are attached to Zone 16 Command in Yenagoa. The command has been asked to produce the men at the FHQ,” Adejobi wrote.

He further emphasized the commitment of the Force Headquarters to cleansing the police system and ensuring justice is served in all cases brought to its attention.

A Nigerian man, Kelechi Isaac, had released a video on social media in which he accused police operatives in Bayelsa State of extorting N3 million from him at gunpoint.

Isaac who hails from Nguru Nworie, a community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state, but is based in Ghana, said he had returned to Nigeria to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa State when the incident happened. Isaac said he was driving back from the marriage ceremony with two of his friends when five police operatives flagged down their vehicle. According to him, the operatives identified themselves as the “IGP’s Special Squad” and that their white pickup truck was not branded.

The operatives’ uniform did not have name tags, he said

The victim said the operatives searched their vehicle and subsequently forced him to unlock his phone. He said the armed operatives, on seeing a N10 million bank alert in his phone, allegedly began to beat him and threatened to shoot him unless he transferred N6 million to them.

“They handcuffed me and drove us away and continued beating me. Before we knew it, they started shooting guns and threatened to kill the three of us. I asked them to take me to a police station but they refused. They said that if I didn’t give them N6 million from the N10 million, they would kill all of us. When the beating became too much, I started negotiating with them, and at the end of the day, I transferred N3 million to them in two bank accounts they provided and drove with us and stopped us at Ahoada in Rivers State and drove off,” he narrated

Isaac said the operatives gave him two different bank accounts where he transferred N2 million and N1 millon separately. He alleged that N2 million was transferred to the Monie Point Microfinance Bank account number belonging to Yusuf Mustafa, while the N1 million was transferred to another Monie Point Microfinance Bank account number belonging to Jerry Ventures.

He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (IGP), to intervene and compel the operatives to return the money.

“All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the IGP to fish out the policemen giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image. I believe with these account details, they can be fished out. I want Justice. I want my money returned because it is for my brother’s project. Let the policemen who did this to me be identified so that other Nigerians won’t become their victims,” Mr Isaac stated. I don’t do any illicit business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country.”

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Police arrest suspected car thief in Niger state

Operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested a suspected car thief and recovered a Toyota Highlander vehicle stolen in Tafa Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, said the suspect claimed that the vehicle was given to him by one Baba Gadas and to be taken to Mubarak in Kaduna for disposal.

“On 04/09/2024 at about 0400hrs, distress was received that some hoodlums invaded a residence at Tudun-Wada area via Sabon-Wuse, Tafa and stole a Toyota Highlander vehicle with Reg. No. ABJ 775 AT and other valuables,” the statement read.

“Immediately the report was received, all security posts along Kaduna road were alerted, and fortunately the said vehicle was intercepted at Customs point along Kaduna road with one *Halilu Shuaibu* 28yrs of Gwarinpa area of Abuja.

“The suspect claimed that the vehicle was given to him by one Baba Gadas of Zuba and to be taken to one Mubarak in Kaduna for disposal.

“Meanwhile, the suspect has been transferred to SCID Minna with the said vehicle for further investigation and diligent prosecution.”

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Ebonyi to begin payment of new minimum wage September -Information Commissioner

Ebonyi State Government says it has concluded arrangements to begin the implementation of the payment of Federal Government’s approved National Minimum Wage to civil servants in the State starting this September, 2024.

The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor disclosed this in an exclusive chat with DAILY POST on Thursday.

Okpor explained that the implementation was part of the Governor’s economic policies of improving the living standards of citizens of the State.

According to him, the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State was the first in the South East region to agree to the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage for workers.

He noted that the empowerment packages of the present administration were in different categories as many indigenes and non-indigenes have been benefiting from the empowerment Programmes of the Governor.

“In the commencement of his administration, his Excellency in order ameliorate the present economic hardship being faced by citizens, owing to the removal of fuel subsidy, which has continued to impact on the cost of commodities and cost of living, across the country, including Ebonyi State, for instance, implemented the wage increment of N10,000.00 and later upgraded it to N20,000.00.

“The Governor of Ebonyi State is the first Executive Governor in the South East to agree to the payment of the new national minimum wage, which directive has been given to the relevant authorities to begin the payment this September,” he stated.

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Yahaya Bello is not in our custody, still wanted – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied reports claiming embattled former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, is in their custody.

In a statement released on Wednesday, September 18, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the ex-governor remains wanted “for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges.”

“Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.

Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale said.

Earlier today, Bello’s media team released a statement claiming he had honored the invitation from EFCC.